Valve for mounting in a cylinder wall

ABSTRACT

A valve ( 10 ) is described for use in oil injection of an oil mist ( 8 ) for lubricating/flushing cylinders in large engines and arranged with mounting means ( 14 ) for fastening in a cylinder wall ( 2 ) with a valve stem ( 12, 13 ) extending through the cylinder wall and with a nozzle outlet ( 6 ) at the inner end of the valve stem. A valve is made, the spray direction of which may be adjusted after mounting. Therefore, the valve is peculiar in that the nozzle outlet ( 6 ) is disposed in the inner valve stem part ( 13 ) which is rotatable relative to an outer valve stem part ( 12 ) . The outer valve stem part ( 12 ) is fastened to or made as an integral part of the mounting means ( 14 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a valve for use in injecting oil forlubricating/flushing cylinders in large engines and arranged withmounting means for fastening in a cylinder wall with a valve stemextending through the cylinder wall, and with at least one nozzle outletat the inner end of the valve stem.

The invention particularly concerns a valve or injection unit intendedfor use in cylinder lubrication of motor cylinders in large dieselengines, particularly marine engines. In such systems, the valve or theinjection unit may include a dosing unit mounted directly on theindividual valve. In such lubricating systems, previously the valve hasbeen intended for introducing an injection jet in the form ofdirectionally oriented oil mist lubrication. Disclosures of examples ofthis technique are known e.g. from WO 00/28194 and WO 02/35068, whichpublications are hereby incorporated by reference.

It is noted that in the present application, the term valve is used. Byusing such a term in the present application is envisaged a unit thatmay also be said to be an injection unit. Such injection unit mayoptionally include a dosing unit or be adapted as an injection unitwithout dosing in the valve/injection unit itself. The expression valvethus covers a machine part extending through the cylinder wall andconnecting one or more nozzle outlets or oil injection orifices at anend inside the cylinder with oil connection openings on a part outsidethe cylinder wall.

Many examples of valves of the type mentioned in the introduction areknown. The valve is thus connected with a supply source for oil which issprayed under pressure into the interior of the cylinder at a given timeadjusted to the work stroke of a piston in the cylinder.

The valves are disposed in a number around the circumference of acylinder. The valves are usually disposed in radially or largelyradially oriented mounting holes in the cylinder wall and extend throughthis cylinder wall. The valves are fastened to the cylinder wall viamounting means, e.g. screw thread on the valve stem itself, or amounting bushing screwed into the screw holes formed in the cylinderwall. The valve is clamped and secured in a given position by tighteningthe screw thread connection. This may provide uncertainty of the finalangular position of the valve when this is secured in the cylinder wall.

The valves are provided with one or more nozzle outlets that aretransversely oriented relative to the valve stem, and which are directedin one or more directions wanted for the actual mounting hole forproviding lubrication/flushing with desired orientation inside thecylinder. Thus there are different orientation of the valves indifferent mounting holes. Thus every valve is made with individual shapeadapted the contemplated mounting hole.

Previously known valves, which subsequent to mounting have a desiredspray direction setting, demanded an extensive machining of thecylinder, and there was the risk that the valves could be turnedwrongly. This is unfavourable as here there is need for individualadaptation. This is unsuitable from a manufacturing point of view.Furthermore, there is no possibility of setting spray direction aftermounting.

It is the purpose of the present invention to indicate a valve wherethese drawbacks are relieved, and which is provided so that theorientation of the spray direction(s) of the valve may be determinedafter mounting in the mounting hole in the cylinder wall, and which ispreferably arranged so that it may be used with minimal machining ofexisting mounting holes instead of a prior art valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is achieved according to the present invention with a valve of thekind mentioned in the introduction, which is peculiar in that the atleast one nozzle outlet is disposed in the inner valve stem part whichis rotatable relative to an outer valve stem part, and that the outervalve stem part is fastened to or made as an integral part of themounting means.

The valve according to the invention is designed so that a minimalmachining of existing mounting holes on existing motors are required, asthe machining is reduced compared with previously known, correspondingvalves. At the same time, the valve has the advantage that its spraydirection(s) can be adjusted after mounting.

The new valve may particularly be used for lubricating/flushing withindividually oriented or asymmetrically oriented injection jet(s), wherethe angular setting of nozzle outlet(s) of the valve is only adjustedafter mounting the valve in the mounting hole. This occurs by rotatingthe inner valve stem part in relation to the outer valve stem part, andthen securing the two valve stem parts mutually by activating means,preferably screws, for clamping the valve stem parts together. Theadjusting of the inner valve stem part occurs by rotating the part whichis rotationally fixed with the inner valve stem part and which issituated outside the cylinder wall.

As the outer valve stem part is secured in the cylinder wall, thedirection of the injection jet or jets may be adjusted in a very simpleway with a desired orientation after mounting at the actual position inthe cylinder wall. The valve may, however, also be used for oilinjection with symmetrically oriented injection jet(s) that do notrequire adjusting of the orientation/angle of the valve after mountingthe valve.

The new valve does thus only need to be made in one embodiment whichdoes not need to be adapted individually according to the intendedposition.

When stubs for valve oil supply and oil discharge are disposed in therotatable valve stem, oil connections to source of supply and returnflow will be mounted after adjusting the valve. This is easily effectedby using hydraulic pipes or flexible oil hoses.

According to a further embodiment, the valve is peculiar in that therotatable valve stem part includes two annular clamping faces disposedat each side of an annular flange on the fixed valve stem part, andwhich is provided with means for clamping the clamping faces against theflange for securing mutual position of the two valve stem parts. Herebyis achieved a technically simple solution on a valve with thepossibility of mutually rotating the two valve stem parts, as theclamping faces may function as sliding faces in the unclamped state.

With the valve according to the invention, one may only loosen a coupleof screws and set/turn the valve to lubricate/flush in the wanteddirection.

According to a further embodiment, the valve is peculiar in that theouter valve stem part/mounting means includes a bushing provided withexternal screw thread and with an inner bore for rotatable accommodationof the inner valve stem part. Via the screw thread, the valve may thusbe screwed firmly into an existing threaded hole in the cylinder wall.

The valve may include plural nozzle outlets as it may hereby cover alarger area of the cylinder wall with the oil mists or injection jetsdischarged transversely relative to the valve stem and directed towardsthe cylinder wall around the valve.

According to a further embodiment, the valve according to the inventionis peculiar in that it includes an oil filter. It is hereby possible tofilter the oil in the valve before it reaches the nozzle outlet/outlets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will now be explained more closely with reference to theaccompanying drawing, where:

Brief Description Of The Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view, partly in section, of a lubricatingsystem in which a valve according to the invention is used,

FIG. 2 shows an end view of a valve according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a first sectional view through the valve shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a second sectional view through the valve shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through a cylinder wall with examples oforientation of mounting holes for the valve according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows an end view of a further embodiment of a valve according tothe invention,

FIG. 7 shows a first sectional view through the valve shown in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows a second and partial sectional view through valve shown inFIG. 6,

FIG. 9 shows a third and partial sectional view through the valve shownin FIG. 6, and

FIG. 10 shows a fourth sectional view of the valve shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the different Figures of the drawing, identical or correspondingelements are designated with the same reference. Therefore, no detailedexplanation of such elements will be given in connection with eachFigure.

FIG. 1 shows a system with a number of valves 1 provided in a cylinderwall 2. The valves 1 are mounted in mounting holes 27 which are orientedradially in the cylinder wall in this embodiment.

The valves 1 are via hydraulic pipes or via flexible oil hoses 3connected with an oil pump 4 that contains individual pump units foreach valve 1 and is connected with an oil tank 5.

At one end, each valve 1 has a nozzle outlet 6 disposed in the cylinderwall immediately within the inner surface of the cylinder wall 2.Through the nozzle outlet 6, the oil is atomised when the pressure inthe oil pipe 3 reaches a predetermined level. At the part providedoutside the cylinder wall, the valves are connected with hydraulic pipesor with flexible return hoses 7 for oil to be returned to the oil tank5. The valves are discharging a transverse oil mist or injection jet 8in relation to the valve stem that will cover an area 9 of the cylinderwall to which the oil mist is directed.

The FIGS. 2-4 show a valve 10 of another type than the valve 1 shown inFIG. 1. The valve 10 has a construction in principle as the valvedescribed in WO 02/35068.

The valve 10 may optionally be connected with a motor (not shown here)for setting closing pressure of a thrust block 11 in the valve 10.

In the shown embodiment, the thrust block 11 and set screw 26 arecovered by a cover 24 fastened to the valve with a screw 25. The lid 24is mounted after the closing pressure of the thrust block 11 has beenset by rotating the threaded set screw 26.

The mode of operation for and the individual parts in the valve 10 aredescribed in WO 02/35/068 which is hereby incorporated by reference.Therefore, a detailed description not repeated here.

The valve 10 has an outer valve stem part 12 and an inner valve stempart 13 rotatably supported therein, the part 13 capable of being heldin an arbitrary angular position so that the nozzle outlet 6 is disposedin a desired rotational angular position relative to the outer valvestem part 12 secured in the cylinder wall 2. The outer valve stem part12 has mounting means in the form of an external thread 14 interactingwith a thread in a mounting hole in the cylinder wall 2.

The outer valve stem part 12 has an annular flange 15 situated betweentwo annular clamping jaws 16, 17 with clamping faces 18 and 19,respectively, at each side of the flange 15. The clamping faces 16, 17may be clamped by means of screws 20 for securing the flange 15 andthereby the inner valve stem part 13 at a certain angular position inrelation to the outer valve stem part 12 and thereby also relative tothe cylinder wall 2. Hereby the nozzle outlet 6 is provided a desiredorientation for covering the desired area 9 of the inner surface of thecylinder wall.

In the part 21 of the inner valve stem part 13 provided outside thecylinder wall, there are stubs 22, 23 for mounting oil pipes or theflexible oil hoses 3, 7 for oil supply and return flow, respectively.Via a pin 29, the inner valve stem part 13 is rotationally fixed withthe clamping jaw 17 forming part of the part 21 provided outside thecylinder wall. By rotating the clamping jaw 21, the inner valve stempart 13 may thus be rotated relatively to the outer valve stem part 12after it has been mounted in the cylinder wall 2.

In FIG. 5 is shown a section through a cylinder wall 2. Mounting holes28 are here illustrated oriented at different angles relative to aradial orientation as shown for the mounting holes 27 in FIG. 1.

The FIGS. 6-10 show a valve 100 having a construction in principlecorresponding to the valve shown in FIGS. 2-4 and as described in WO02/35068.

In FIG. 6 is shown an end view of the valve as seen from the outer sideof the cylinder wall. In the Figure, the part 21 provided outside thecylinder wall with the stubs 22, 23 for mounting the oil pipes or theflexible oil hoses 3, 7 for oil supply and return flow, respectively,appears. Furthermore, sectional lines for the sectional views in FIGS.7-10 are shown.

The valve 100 includes two nozzle outlets 6 as it appears from FIGS. 8and 9 and the associated enlarged detail views. However, it is to bementioned that the valve can include more than two nozzle outlets 6. Theshown embodiments with one and two nozzle outlets 6 are thus notlimiting for the actual number of nozzle outlets that may be used in avalve according to the invention.

The valve is provided with a filter 30 disposed in the valve inimmediate association with the stub 22 which is intended for mountingthe oil pipes or the flexible oil hoses 3 for oil supply. The suppliedoil is filtered before reaching the nozzle outlets. The risk of completeor partial clogging of the nozzle outlets 6 is hereby avoided. Acomplete or partial clogging may give rise to insufficient coverage ofthe desired area 9 of the inner surface of the cylinder wall. By usingthe filter 30, this risk is avoided. A filter 30 may correspondingly beplaced in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4.

The orientations for the mounting holes shown in FIG. 5 are justselected randomly, and there may thus be other orientations of themounting holes 28 also. In these differently oriented mounting holes,there may be mounted valves 1, 10 which are identical in each mountinghole. Yet angular adjustments of the valve under consideration of theindividual orientation of the mounting holes are performed.

1. Valve for use in injecting oil for lubricating or flushing cylindersin large engines and arranged with mounting means for fastening in acylinder wall with a valve stem extending through the cylinder wall, andwith at least one nozzle outlet at the inner end of the valve stem,wherein the at least one nozzle outlet is disposed in the inner valvestem part which is rotatable relative to an outer valve stem part, andthat the outer valve stem part is fastened to or made as an integralpart of the mounting means, wherein stubs for oil supply to the valveand oil discharge from the valve are disposed in the rotatable valvestem part.
 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterised in that therotatable valve stem part includes two annular clamping faces disposedat each side of an annular flange on the outer valve stem part, andwhich is provided with means for clamping the clamping faces against theflange for securing mutual position of the two valve stem parts. 3.Valve according to claim 1, characterised in that at the least onenozzle outlet is provided for forming one or more injection jets or oilmists transversely of the valve stem.
 4. Valve according to claim 1,characterised in that the at least one nozzle outlet is provided forforming one or more injection jets or oil mists oriented symmetricallyrelatively to the valve stem.
 5. Valve according to claim 1,characterised in that it includes an oil filter.
 6. Valve for use ininjecting oil for lubricating or flushing cylinders in large engines andarranged with mounting means for fastening in a cylinder wall with avalve stem extending through the cylinder wall, and with at least onenozzle outlet at the inner end of the valve stem, wherein the at leastone nozzle outlet is disposed in the inner valve stem part which isrotatable relative to an outer valve stem part, and that the outer valvestem part is fastened to or made as an integral part of the mountingmeans, wherein the mounting means includes a bushing provided withexternal screw thread and with an inner bore for rotatable accommodationof the inner valve stem part.
 7. Valve according to claim 6,characterised in that the rotatable valve stem part includes two annularclamping faces disposed at each side of an annular flange on the outervalve stem part, and which is provided with means for clamping theclamping faces against the flange for securing mutual position of thetwo valve stem parts.
 8. Valve according to claim 6, characterised inthat at the least one nozzle outlet is provided for forming one or moreinjection jets or oil mists transversely of the valve stem.
 9. Valveaccording to claim 6, characterised in that the at least one nozzleoutlet is provided for forming one or more injection jets or oil mistsoriented symmetrically relatively to the valve stem.
 10. Valve accordingto claim 6, characterised in that it includes an oil filter.